Never go back?

As Thierry Henry looks set to complete a return to Arsenal Sky Sports looks at other players who have ignored the famous "never go back" adage, with varying degrees of success.

Last Updated: 31/12/11 12:14pm

IAN RUSH

After 139 goals in 224 appearances for Liverpool, the Wales international striker joined Juventus in the summer of 1987- but less than 14 months later he was back at Anfield.

He took his haul of Football League titles to five, and netted in the 1989 and 1992 FA Cup final successes, scoring 90 more goals in 245 games but the partnership of Stan Collymore and Robbie Fowler marked the beginning of the end for Rush.

ROBBIE FOWLER

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Fowler was widely considered to be the most natural finisher in England. He left for Leeds in 2002, then had a spell at Manchester City, before rejoining the Anfield club on a free transfer.

He managed eight goals in 30 games second time around, taking his tally to an impressive 183 from 369 prior to leaving the club in the summer of 2007. After spells with Cardiff, Blackburn and two Australian clubs, he became player-manager of Thai Premier League club Muangthong United earlier this year.

JURGEN KLINSMANN

Klinsmann, who played in the 1990 Germany team that knocked England out of the World Cup, won over many of his English critics following his arrival at Tottenham in 1994. He came to Britain with a reputation as a diver and after celebrating a debut goal with a diving celebration, went on to net 20 more times on his way to being voted 1995 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.

He returned to the club in a loan spell from Sampdoria in 1997 and scored nine goals in 15 games, before announcing his retirement from the professional game after the 1998 World Cup. Now coach of the United States national team.

DAVID BATTY

Batty became a firm favourite at Elland Road as the local heartbeat in a team which won the Football League title in 1992. After 211 games he left the following year for Blackburn, then Newcastle, before David O'Leary set up a return to Leeds in 1998.

He played a key part in runs to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and the Champions League, until he fell out of favour with subsequent managers following the sacking of O'Leary. Retired from football in 2004.

BARRY FERGUSON

Boyhood Rangers fan Ferguson made his first-team debut in 1997 and went on to play 152 games for the Ibrox side before former Rangers boss Graeme Souness paid £7.5million to Blackburn in the summer of 2003.

He took the captain's armband at Ewood Park but played only 36 games for the Premier League club and headed back north of the border to rejoin the Gers after 16 months having submitted a written transfer request. Currently with Blackpool, who he joined for an undisclosed fee in July.

PAUL BRACEWELL

Bracewell had three spells at Sunderland. He joined from Stoke in 1982 and excelled with a series of impressive displays in the midfield which earned him a highly successful move to Everton.

He returned to the Wearside club in 1989 and figured in the 1992 FA Cup final - his fourth appearance on the losing side after three final defeats on Merseyside. After a move to Newcastle, he returned to Sunderland and played 77 more games, as well as becoming part of Peter Reid's coaching staff.

JERMAIN DEFOE

Defoe joined Tottenham in 2004 before leaving for Portsmouth for £9million in 2008. He averaged almost a goal every other game for the south coast side before returning to White Hart Lane a year later in a £15million deal. He remains with the north London club, although is currently finding first-team opportunities hard to come by.